Today's letters: It’s time to end the ‘reefer madness’

It’s time to end the ‘reefer madness’

In the recent U.S. election, Colorado and Washington state voted to legalize and regulate cannabis. Should Canada do the same? Last week, letters editor Paul Russell asked readers for their opinions — a majority said yes.

— In 2002, my disabled teenaged son was dying a painful death, uneased by morphine. I entertained that marijuana might offer him some relief. And it did. In fact it was the only thing that did. His relief from pain was immediate. The medical marijuana I obtained was legally grown in Canada. It’s harvest was monitored by the federal government of Canada. It was processed and sold in capsule form in a Maritime province. I am over 60 years old, I vote in elections and I would like to say “It’s time to decriminalize marijuana.” Gloria Christianson, Hamilton, Ont.

— Organized crime destroys lives and leeches money from the public. Legalizing marijuana would cut off a major source of funding for mafias, gangs and terrorist groups. We shouldn’t be spending our taxes on enforcement of ineffectual laws while giving people criminal records for a victimless crime. Marijuana alone has caused less deaths than Aspirin (zero). It’s not harmless, but neither is alcohol or tobacco. It’s time to just say no to archaic laws for possessing a plant. Andrew Cichocki, Toronto.

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— Marijuana legalization will reduce the black market and consequently crime in general. It would give police more time to work on other violations. The govermment could also make money; look how well it’s doing with tobacco and alcohol. At the end we all win, except judges and lawyers. Harald Meesen, Holland Landing, Ont.

— Marijuana’s legal status has lead to a stigmatization that it is inherently bad, which is far from the truth. True, certain species contain high levels of THC, a psychoactive chemical substance which could induce schizophrenia in those already predisposed. However, it also contains an antipsychotic known as CBD that has been used to treat schizophrenia. It’s staggering the amount of medicinal applications cannabis has. Robert Weiland, Toronto.

— Canadian society has embraced and questioned the intentions of the plant know as marijuana, with results of a widely positive nature. This plant is not guilty of the crimes it is accused of, and should be free of its sentence of prohibition. Our government trusts its responsible public with cars, alcohol, firearms, children and more. We simply ask to add one more item to this list. Patrick Grant, Saskatoon.

— Criminal records for pot possession ruin people’s lives while the drug cartel are profiting from the prohibition. If we decriminalize marijuana, the general public will still have to go to the black market to purchase the weed. But if it was to be made legal, the government could regulate it by growing, selling and taxing it. Let’s end the “Reefer Madness” propaganda that’s been shoved down our throats. Rob Boem, Mississauga, Ont.

— No one can deny that the war on drugs has been a total failure. Legalization, controlled manufacturing/distribution and taxation benefiting harm reduction, education and health care is the only solution. With 66% of Canadians in favour, and Justin Trudeau’s recently announced support, I believe it will be legalized when he is our next prime minister. Barry Samuels, North Vancouver, B.C.

— Cannabis prohibition is failing our children and our communities by enriching organized crime and contributing to increased violence. Drug dealers do not ask for I.D. A regulated system from production, distribution to consumption would create a safer and healthier community. Tax revenue from a regulated market would provide millions of dollars for education, health-care and other social programs. Kelly Coulter, NORML Women’s Alliance of Canada, Kingston, Ont.

— Let’s avoid the hassle of chasing organized crime because of a little pot. The distribution of marijuana can be done in an efficient and profitable manner by our free enterprise system. This can provide new opportunities for young independent entrepreneurs. This could be a specialty market. Think of what Starbucks did for coffee. Now imagine what some imaginative, creative young person could do for marijuana. John Lawson, Burlington, Ont.

— As a psychiatrist, I do not see marijuana success stories, especially among youth who slip into the pattern of daily or nightly use. Yet, prison takes a much greater toll on one’s mental and physical health than even cannabis products. I therefore, begrudgingly, vote in favour of decriminalizing, and perhaps even legalizing, the damn stuff. Dr. Ron Charach, Toronto.

— I graduated from Ryerson in 1967. The big campus issue during the 1960s was the legalization of marijuana and in ’67, the federal government struck the Le Dain Commission to study the matter. Us 20-somethings assumed that cannabis would be legalized before we hit 30. I’m still amazed that it wasn’t. Legalization isn’t an umbrella panacea but wouldn’t it be better to have the product taxed with some funds going to assist in education and treatment for those who overindulge? P. Wilson, Toronto.

— The lunacy of marijuana prohibition proves Einstein’s definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome. While waiting for a prime minister to show leadership, police should react only to complaints about marijuana “grow-ops” allowing an increase in product at a lower price, driving organized crime out and freeing up law enforcement personnel to pursue real crime. Jim Sanders, Guelph, Ont.

— Marijuana is a relatively harmless drug with more pros than cons. University towns would have fewer problems with alcohol and violence if kids had better access to marijuana and less or no access to dangerous prescription drugs. I do not believe we should encourage marijuana use with legalization, but we should be very honest and put out real facts and let each individual decide based on education whether he or she wants to smoke it. Paul Green, London, Ont.

— The only way to keep marijuana out of the hands of our children is to legalize it. Criminalizing marijuana supports organized crime and the penalty of law is more harmful than the substance itself. Canada could have a huge economic gain through taxation of regulated sales, tourism and zero police and court costs. Theodore Rhenius, Burlington, Ont.

— I’m in my 50s with two school-aged children, a doctorate and a global business. I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if, like almost all the guys I hung out with in my teens, I’d ended up in jail and had my life ruined for liking to smoke dope, play guitar and giggle. Criminalizing marijuana will be remembered as a sad, hysterical moment in human history. Gervase Bushe, North Vancouver, B.C.

— We know that marijuana is used recreationally by lawyers and university professors. It is no more addicting than alcohol, which is legal, and greater adverse circumstance come from being drunk than being “high.” Criminalization only promotes profit and criminal activity, and wastefully fills courts and jail cells. Dr. Mary McKim, London, Ont.

— Yes, legalize/decriminalize marijuana. I’ve been around 64 years and I’ve seen just about every abuse anyone could do to themselves with drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, but the addictions are still out there. It’s a matter of personal choice. If it ever becomes legal to buy marijuana in the corner store, I hope the National Post offers a joint with its paper in the morning. What a way to start the day! A. Kelly, Peterborough, Ont.

Keep it illegal

— While on vacation in Florida, my parents were the victims of a head-on car collision, leaving them with life-long disabilities. At the trial it was determined that there was no alcohol involved, and that the teen driver had not tried any drugs other than marijuana, which he used fairly regularly. I hope no one has to go through what our family had to, but if marijuana is legalized, it could happen to anyone reading this, as I fear it increasingly will. Peter Adamakos, Ottawa.

— It drives me crazy when some bleary-eyed pothead suggests the government should legalize marijuana so it can reap a financial bonanza through taxation. The argument ignores human nature. The government will regulate potency and add taxes. Is the average user going to switch to inferior product? Are those involved in the supply chain going to give up and not compete to retain their customers and earnings? Joel Schraven, Port Hope, Ont.

— Big Tobacco is salivating at the prospect of legalization. Thanks, potheads, for giving it a break from declining cigarette profits. Easy to turn those tobacco fields into pot fields or create new ones. “Potarettes” awaiting full-scale productions. More lung cancers be damned. D. Ines, Vancouver.

— If you are thinking marijuana should be a legal substance, then you must be high already. Just remember who runs Ottawa. Alistair McKay, Markham, Ont.

— Growing up in a middle-class ’60s neighbourhood with lots of drugs demonstrated that marijuana is a gateway drug — kids just wanted a higher high and many lost their lives in that search. Modern marijuana is much more potent. Our current laws provide a middle ground between personal use and trafficking. C. Bowman, Toronto.

— Considering the many negative side-effects of marijuana use, particularly with respect to young people, it makes no sense to decriminalize this drug in Canada. Medical marijuana already has government approval. Surely health concerns take precedence over “recreational” propensities. Lorraine McNamara, Oshawa, Ont.

— There is a groundswell of public opinion in this country that wants to legalize marijuana use. This will enable many young people to become serious potheads which, down the road, will put an enormous strain on our health-care system, not including the collateral damage from increased impaired driving incidents. Proponents who argue that alcohol is legal are merely pettifogging the debate. Steve Flanagan, Ottawa.

— From a purely medical standpoint, it makes no sense to legalize marijuana, the smoke of which studies show to be far more carcinogenic than cigarette smoke. Also, there is “an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia” (letter, Nov. 13). An argument might be made for medicinal use (e.g., for glaucoma), but such use must be strictly monitored. Recreational use is simply stupid. Lars Troide, Apple Hill, Ont.

— Criminalizing the sale of vices will never work, but neither will a regime in which governments are selling vices, as they already do with gambling, in corner stores, newspapers, charity flyers and ubiquitous casinos. To deal with hard drugs, we should try a combination of legalization, education and sensible, compassionate restraint on the part of vendors, much as we gradually have done with alcohol. Patrick Cowan, Toronto.

— It’s undeniably but a matter of when, not if, pot possession becomes legal; however, research knowledge must be zealously sought in regards to pot consumption hazards. As a former, frequent pot consumer, I’m painfully too well aware of the “benign” effects cannabis consumption can insidiously leave behind after a consumer quits. Frank G. Sterle, Jr., White Rock, B.C.

— Teens using marijuana are at risk of psychosis. Education, employment and relationships can diminish, gradually grinding to a halt. The “perfect storm” of genetics (i.e., a relative with addiction, depression or anxiety) combined with this new super strength drug that floods dopamine into a developing teen brain can cause havoc. The public needs to know the number of marijuana-induced psychosis hospital admissions in our youth before making an informed decision regarding legalization. Jackie Powell, Victoria.

— We should decriminalize marijuana — as soon as there is a reliable, court-tested roadside breathalyzer that can detect marijuana impairment of a driver. We need that technology to ensure that the most devastating negative effects of marijuana are suffered only by its users. Otherwise, the unintended consequences to non-users are all too obvious. Alastair Gordon, Toronto.

— Marijuana should still be treated as an illegal substance, but with no criminal conviction, only a small fine. Why take all the fun out of making it legal?
David Honigsberg, Toronto.

— I am OK with legalization, or decriminalization of marijuana; but am worried that it will lead to a nation full of people looking for car keys all day. Roy Ratnavel, Vancouver.

Let’s stop the fear-mongering. Our neighbour to the south’s “War on Drugs” has only incarcerated more people for lesser crimes. We need to start talking about the idea of legalization because it’s the smart thing to do. Tobacco will kill more people today than marijuana will this year. Yet this legal, and highly taxable, commodity is allowed to reside on store shelves nationwide. Jake Pare, London, Ont.

Legalizing marijuana sales will control marijuana use. The involved criminal element and the cost of enforcing the currently ineffective drug laws will both be eliminated. Handle marijuana sales in a manner similar to the way we handle Alcohol Sales. At the same time increasing the penalties for Alcohol and Drug Abusers. Consider what happened when alcohol was illegal during prohibition. Then compare the present problems with alcohol when as opposed to the present problem with drugs. The ability to control effectively is limited to items which are legally available. This also applies to all recreational drugs for this same reason. Bill Martin, Edmonton.

According to the Nov. 15 issue of the National Post, Ipsos surveyed Canadians and found that 66% favoured legalization of marijuana. If Ipsos had called me, perehaps it would have been 67%. Bruce Melo, Sherwood Park, Alta.

As for cannabis usage, the need is there to connect the dots, as to what the response from government is. When cannabis usage is blamed for what goes wrong, what aftermath is society comfortable seeing enforced? Because, it isn’t only about what goes into a person. David W. Lincoln, Edmonton.

Legalize, regulate and tax the heck out of pot and, presto, gang-related violent crime in our communities and fear among our citizens would disappear. All too often the “debate” on marijuana starts and ends with the collateral issue of “organized crime.” Before we decide if it is time for legalization or decriminalization or whether to keep treating it as an illegal substance, letter-writer Al King (Nov. 13) emphasized the fundamental need for a thorough public “debate” on the whole issue of marijuana, starting with a clear understanding of its medical effects. E.W. Bopp, Tsawwassen, B.C.

Absolutely. Prohibition does not nor can ever be called a solution to our problems and is the reason why America has 5% of the global population and incarcerates more people than China and Iran put together. Restriction simply moves the behaviour underground where the criminal element thrives as history shows. The War on Drugs is a war on people and their sovereignty over their own bodies. Drugs are a part of human culture and cannabis is the least lethal and least addictive, as further scientific research is proving. Hell, marijuana is even safer to consume than peanuts. So, for the love of bud, legalize. Mitch Snider, Kitchener, Ont.

Yes, legalize it, for its commercial values, it could save forests, one acre hemp produces better quality paper and as much as four acres forest. It also has several other commercial usages, too many to list. Since it was made illegal — its usage as a drug to smoke was only promoted when it became illegal — it has never prevented me, or anyone else from ever smoking it. Monica

If you were to legalize it, there would be no more worries about it being laced, about drug-related violence and the government would make so much money. Just think about the pros and cons. Mitchell Froom

After more than 40 years, I-don’t-know how many deaths of law enforcement officers, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, this issue has not changed and has probably gotten more out of control. Any intelligent person would say it is time to take a new approach. It is time to control it like alcohol and generate some revenue, at the same time cutting off a valuable source of revenue to organized crime. Doug McCormick, Maple Grove, Que.

To this 58-year-old who’s indulged since he was in his teens, who still made the honour roll, who still went on into business and had his successes and failures — like those people who don’t, won’t or can’t indulge, yet condemn those who do, it’s a no-brainer. Better writers than I have said the same. Lorne Peasland, Victoria.

You should change the law immediately. Chevannes (2001) recommended decriminalizing for three groups: Marijuana used for religious purposes (read Rasta); used for medicinal purposes (say glaucoma); adults over the age of 21. The government would profit by taxing the product. A win-win situation Dr. Anthony MacFarlane, Hamilton, Ont.

Legalize primarily for health benefits: Science has confirmed that marijuana is linked to mental health problems. Teenagers have easier access to marijuana than to alcohol. Young brains are more adversely affected. Legalizing could control levels of cannabinoids & THC. Licensed non-marijuana plant growers must document every aspect of their production. At present, who is inspecting what pests & chemicals are affecting the environment and human health through the marijuana industry? Lastly, the safety & tax benefits are obvious. Sheila Martin, Pitt Meadows, B.C.

It makes sense to (libertarian) me to legalize and regulate pot. That way the government makes some tax revenue and takes it out of criminal gangs. Americans, supposedly more socially conservative, legalized before us, and by popular referendum. We should do likewise with polygamy, euthanasia and prostitution and do it in a plebiscite like tge democracy we’re purporting to be. It’s time to take decisions on moral issues out of government and into voting public. Steven J. Norris, Niagara Falls, Ont.

We need to treat marijuana similarly to the sale of alcohol. Prohibition of the substance is unenforceable and obviously not working. The present system makes criminals rich, ensures there is competitive violence from them, and has created a huge enforcement and incarceration bureaucracy. Sell cannabis through pharmacies at reasonable cost and use the proceeds for medical research and rehabilitation from harder drugs. Eric Aubin, Barrie, Ont.

I don’t smoke it but am applying for a medical exemption because it actually works for my deep muscle/body pain and my mood. it’s organic and can be grown by oneself. what more do you need? Big pharma can go suck an egg. Matt Archer

Yes, we should definitely change our “Marijuana Laws”. Decriminalize, legalize and regulate, or simply remove cannabis from the CDSA – anything is better than what exists today. It is non-toxic, all natural, relieves the symptoms of over 200 different conditions, has been legal as medicine in Canada since 2001, currently approximately 26,000 have licenses – but apparently nobody bothered to tell Canadians. The public needs to know that this “illegal substance” can save lives. Laurie MacEachern, director, Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Alliance of Canada Inc.

It is time for a change of perspective. We have been living under misguided and cruel prohibition laws for too long. The outcome of these laws has been far more detrimental to individuals and society than cannabis itself has ever been. Legalization, regulation, and science based facts are far better at keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and keeping the money out of the hands of Organized Crime than fear mongering and propaganda. Erik Cocks

Alcohol prohibition did NOT work. Marijuana prohibition is NOT working. Alcohol does significantly more damage to society than weed, yet it IS legal. Why? Because our government figured out how to use it to make more money. Cigarettes kill hundreds of thousands. Marijuana? None. Cigarettes are legal. Why? Because our government makes a fortune off them. Unfortunately for our government, they haven’t figured out how to control the growth and distribution, so they can’t take their cut yet. Once they do, it will be legal too. Terri Higney

We need to legalize it … tax it and watch the economy grow. Why should people take man made chemical when there is a natural way to treat multiple disorders. Oxycodone is a menace to society!!! Judy Mackenzie

Marijuana prohibition has failed miserably. It makes criminals of people who use it and it’s easily obtained by kids. People have been using marijuana for a vast number of reasons for thousands of years, without a single death resulting from its use! It needs to be legal and regulated. Marijuana is generally benign, with no deleterious long terms side effects. Yes, the laws should be changed so that it’s legal for recreational use. Lisa Britton, St. Catharines, Ont.

The imprisonment of thousands of people for the non-violent act of marijuana possession, whose lives and families are often destroyed by the experience of prison, is one of the biggest travesties of the last few decades of Canadian history. We are wasting many millions of dollars on a law enforcement campaign that has only made organized crime more powerful, while innocent lives are ruined. Given the evidence, legalization and regulation is the only sane response. Ki McKechnie, Victoria.

The failed status quo will further entrench criminal organizations over something that’s safer and more versatile than legal alternatives. Contaminated cannabis will continue being sold in our high schools instead of in single purpose establishments to adults with ID. Thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars have been wasted over this maniacal, militarized, approach to of all things, a plant. The US estimates that ending prohibition will provide $9-billion in revenue and save another 11 billion in spending. That’s $20-billion every year. Continuing the current policy on cannabis can easily and perhaps only be described as clinically insane. Claude Galipeau

Now is absolutely the time to legalize cannabis, sic: marijuana. Hemp, as well. While there has been a great effort to stifle quality research, the truth is now undeniable; the truth is that cannabis and hemp only cause harms because of prohibition. Let’s take the money out of the black market. Let’s stop criminalizing people for harmless, victimless choices. Let’s improve availability of cannabis for people with medicinal needs! Curt Brown / Jack Draak

Legalize it, tax it. Marijuana consumption is attributed to zero deaths, ever. Compare that to annual alcohol related deaths of 2.5 million people worldwide. 1.5 million of your fellow Canadian’s have a criminal record for simple possession, & every year 30,000 more are charged with possession. Is this the best use of our tax dollars? Please keep an open mind and realize our society has more dangerous substances in the food that we eat and the prescriptions our doctors fill. Scott Davis, Nanaimo, B.C.

I am for legalization and regulation regarding, eg: THC levels, age restrictions, and restrictions regarding number of plants you can grow for personal use. Legalization is a safety issue for the herb’s consumers. Decriminalization means laissez-faire where consumers neither know whether toxic pesticides are sprayed on the plants nor the quality of the harvested product. Taxes on the herb will go into the public purse for disbursement to, among other things, health care. Brian Seaman

It is clear that the current drug policy system isn’t working and it is time for a more proactive approach. That being said, cannabis should be legalized and regulated for therapeutic and recreational use. More education and awareness needs to take place to debunk many of the myths about cannabis use. There are many organizations already working towards this goal. Prohibition and mandatory minimums are not the answer. Sharon Crane

Anyone who knows anything these days knows that pot is not harmful in any serious way, much less harmful than alcohol. It’s time to make it legal and collect some taxes on it too. It also makes great paper products and is a great source of fibre. Terry David Silvercloud, Vancouver.

If marijuana is legalized, regulated, treated like alcohol & cigarettes and “the bejeezus” taxed out of it what costs are to be incurred in policing and enforcing it’s use? Marijuana as it sits now is smoked on worksites, on street corners, in concert halls, and in cars on the daily commute by people who believe in it’s benign effects. I see a widespread increase in its public use by those emboldened by its proposed legality. Wade Pearson, Calgary.

Marijuana is a substance that in thousands of years of use has caused no deaths and helped many people live more comfortable lives due to illness. It has also caused many Canadians to relax after a day of work. Any harm our country experiences from the substance is not caused by marijuana use but by it’s prohibition. It is way past time to legalize and regulate marijuana in our country. Jenny Giesbrecht, Kelowna, B.C.

Marijuana should be decriminalized for small amounts. Personally I can’t stand the smell of it but who am I to tell someone not to take it when alcohol is allowed. However, if one smokes one must bear responsibility and realize that reaction times are slower. Therefore, I propose that any driver that is “stoned” behind the wheel be subject to the same laws as drunk drivers. David Ouellet, Woodbridge, Ont.

Legalize the plant and its product. Control, market and tax it like alcohol. People who don’t smoke (like me) will only use the product medicinally. Richard Westley Graydon, Victoria.

Legalize it, tax it and educate those who choose to use it. Treat marijuana like cigarettes and alcohol, but without the giant bureaucracy of a state run, taxpayer funded, liquor emporium. Redirect the talented people in law enforcement from chasing joints and the odd baggie to focus on serious crime. Reduce court expenses by removing charges that will be thrown out from the dockets. Place the responsibility for education on parents and encourage responsible choices by individuals. D.R, Chevalier, Newmarket, Ont.

A crime was made out of something that should NEVER have been a crime. It is less harmful that tobacco and alcohol; gets rid of criminal element; protects children from dealers who can get them hooked on hard drugs; regulate, tax and let people grow too; tremendous medical benefits (cancer/pain relief/arthritis etc.), unclog courts; get police back to fighting REAL criminals, non-violent people should NOT be in jail at my tax expense! Legalize now! Mark Bartlett, Toronto.

Obviously, our present laws, or at least enforcement of those laws, are not working. However, to actually say to people, “just go for it, smoke whatever brains you might possess, into a state of oblivion”, well, will that work better? My impression, media driven, I’ll admit, is a whole bunch of people standing around, stoned out of their collective minds, flagrantly ignoring any kind of law that might exist. Am I alone in imagining those demonstrators are not excactly really mentally astute? So, the law changes. Criminals peddle their wares elsewhere. Bigger and better drugs. That must be the solution. I’ve never smoked marijuana. I’ve never use recreational drugs. Life has its ups and downs but generally I’m happy. I like one glass of wine. My mind is not confused. I do not have to worry about drinking and driving. Gosh, how boring. Leave the law as it is. Lee Tokrud, Cannington, Ont.

Pot should be legalized, and the sooner the better. There is a new generation of kids getting out of school with no job prospects. Imagine all the fast food joints and weight loss clinics we could have, if the demand was there. Norbert Kaysser, Port Coquitlam B.C.

It is a well established fact that prohibition has NEVER worked anywhere with anything. Imagine all the resources which have been spent through the years on the futile and failing endeavour of enforcing the prohibition ! Weep for the thousands of innocent casualties of this “war” and the corruption it wreaked on so many countries. In the REAL world we desperately need to rethink the status quo in the light of the principle of LESSER EVIL ! By all means decriminalize and of course, the sooner the better ! Helena Slampova, Toronto.

It’s time to tax and regulate the adult use of marijuana. By using regulatory tools proven effective at reducing tobacco use, regulating marijuana will undercut the huge profits driving violent organized crime in BC. Furthermore, marijuana regulation can improve community health by making the drug harder for young people to access, lessening cannabis grow-op associated property damage, and freeing up policing resources to focus on criminal activity where law enforcement can effectively reduce harm. Stop the Violence B.C.

I grew up when it was illegal to light up. My children grew up when small amounts were ignored. My grandchildren saw medical marijuana legalized. My great grandchildren are faced with mandatory sentencing. Meanwhile , in the USA (instigators of the War on Drugs) — decriminalization in many states is the norm , some states allow the sale of medical marijuana in stores, and as of last week some states enjoy full legalization. My vote? Legalize. Pat Corbiere

Total legalization is the only way to control access of marijuana to minors. Yes, some would still find it’s way to underage children, but not as much as now with a dealer on every block. The argument as to it’s health risks are specious, as anything we consume has some hazard associated with it. Raymond Clarke, St-Chrysostome, Que.

The active ingredient in marijuana is a hallucinogen. Driving around town, I am frequently in awe of the bizarre, dangerous, and irrational driving practices around me. When reading or watching the news, I see stories of people wanting to cut down trees for fear of acorns, stories of politicians spending hundreds of millions to move power plants for no good reason. I then ask the question; can our society really afford less reality? Leslie Baylis, Burlington, Ont.

It is the export sector of BC’s marijuana industry that is most lucrative for organized crime. The added advantage of operating from a legally safer, decriminalized jurisdiction will not reduce violence. Participants will be able to shift their logistical focus from growing to export operations, and the latter will become even more violently competitive than now. John Vincent

An assistant professor of family medicine noted these facts about marijuana: more than five joints a week can impair brain functions; individuals who test positive for THC are more often involved in fatal traffic accidents; marijuana is physically addictive after 21 days of use; it contains 50% more cancer causing chemicals than tobacco; it reduces testosterone levels and causes impotence, impaired sex drive, and breast development (gynecomastia) in males. Diane Watts, Gatineau, Que.

Tobacco is a legal commodity and is taxed. Tobacco is also sold illegally without any tax. Do you really think by making marijuana a legal product the present producers and distributors will get out ofthe the business? Not likely. Criminals will continue their business. Marijuana use will just have been given a green light. No risk! No Problem! Our children will say, its OK. This idea is short-sighted and not realistic. Brian Higgins, Toronto.

The situation regarding Canada’s marijuana laws is flabbergasting at the moment and would be almost unbelievable to someone six years ago. In the early 2000s we were on our way to a somewhat regulatory based system of marijuana legalization and now we seem to be sliding back into the dark ages. Never mind the current policies in the U.S.; we need to look at the effects on our young, poor, and minorities of Bill C-10. Sam Cheadle, Toronto.

Yes! The following statistics are from NIDA (National Institute On Drug Abuse). Annual deaths in US from substance use: Tobacco, 390,000; Alcohol, 80,000; Sidestream smoke from tobacco, 50,000; Cocaine, 2,200; Heroin, 2,000; Aspirin, 2,000; Marijuana, 0. Statistics have been relatively consistant for 40 years. Now multiply the above by 40. Meanwhile, its illegality is the sole factor behind tens of thousands of gang-related territorial killings internationally. Peanuts kill 100 people annually, by the way. Barry Samuels, North Vancouver, B.C.

Decriminalization exists within a framework of prohibition, while legalization cannot. The ‘war on drugs’ has enriched criminals, corrupted police, incarcerated non-violent users, torn apart families and destroyed many young lives. Many organizations have profited greatly by prohibition. T. Boone Pickens said ‘Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” The short answer to the question ‘why prohibition?” is Money! We must elect leaders who do the right thing by regulating cannabis like alcohol and tobacco. Judith Newbergher-Renaud and Paul Renaud, Gibsons, B.C.

In this day and age, conflict in the human behavior and mind originates from many illegal substances. Our society should understand that smoking marijuana is not the answer to depression and frustration, as it causes brain damage and lung cancer. Ever tried getting a good night sleep, eating healthy or balancing your time schedule? The Government is headed towards a positive pathway by continuing to not legalize marijuana. Lara Onayak, Toronto.

Let’s see, guns are legal, as are cigarettes, alcohol, prescription drugs and gambling. We are all addicts to something — junk food, exercise or whatever. Keeping soft drugs illegal (remember prohibition) is currency to the underworld and simply results in drug users who would perhaps seek treatment either staying in the closet or rotting in jail. Legalize, tax and treat. Ward Jones, Richmond Hill, Ont.